Taiwan supports this, well big surprise there.

China will inevitably align itself with the Russians and Serbians. They do not want to see Kosovo succeed because it could very well see Taiwan do the same.

This will be a big test for Pax Americana I think. The US will have to prove that it can still rally it's allies and (hopefully) get most of the world's economy on it's side. This will then invariably lead to a collapse in the 'other' sides position.

However we must take into account the large amount of Dollars China has......

India will also get involved in this and it will be interesting to see which side they go in on. We must take into account as well that India has seperatisit movement in it's country as well.

All in all this activation of these 'Ally Networks' will jsut lead to something bad, something foolish. Something that stinks of the Hegemonic stuggles that characterised Europe in the first half of the 20th Century.

Thanks for the link Commonsense........ I don't know why, but your avatar just shouts Common Sense to me as well

__________________
I'll tell you this no eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn
Nothing to kill or die for and no religion too
You may bury my body, down by the highway side,
so my old evil spirit can get a Greyhound bus and ride.

Agreed, keeping all of this in mind and the current US recession, rise of the Euro, and the upcoming US election seem to play out a larger role than previously perceived (especially if the divided democrats lose to McCain and war continues) - your thoughts on the economic aspects of the Kosovo occurrence/Balkans in general?

Another link - or Russian propaganda?
http://uk.reuters.com/article/topNew...03358420071210

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"Gimme some truth, now whose side are we on? Whatever you say, turn on the boob tube I'm in the mood to obey" Jack Johnson

I assume your speaking of how the economic Superpower and Great Powers will deal with this?

My main thought I suppose on this is that if we rally the economic partners we used to win the Cold War, then theyll lose.

Russia cannot do much economically or miltarily and nor can China. Russia' military is in shambles and China has a Regional Military, not a Global one (like the American's, British and French).

If Russia uses it's Gas & Oil, then they'll have a very hard time convincing their biggest buyers (France, Germany and Britain) that Russia is the place they should buy this valuable resource from. They'll also lose out on penetrating the American market as well. Overall, they will not be able to use this 'card', for the moment.

China, well yes it could dump all the $'s but, would that really be wise? We buy so much stuff off them. That wold jeopardise their economy. And to be fair we all know that China is staying together b/c of economic growth. There are Armed revolts every year. The Chinese media does not report it, but there is. If the economic growth stops, this new an economically empowered Middle Class could go nuts and repeat Tianamen Square, but this time they could win.

All in all, I think China & Russia are choosing the wrong step for this one. It will only end in their embarrasment. The two are trying to challenge American hegemony well too early on.

If we are speaking objectively, I would say the Chinese and Russian's should wait a decade of so before locking horns with America and NATO.

Even in a decade, I doubt they'll be able to make us back down on things.

__________________
I'll tell you this no eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn
Nothing to kill or die for and no religion too
You may bury my body, down by the highway side,
so my old evil spirit can get a Greyhound bus and ride.

Yes, this is the beginning of Chinese - Russian interaction in very recent history which would prove positive ground for the nations to come together; because of the involvement of Serbia and Taiwan, respectively. Nothing will be done now, but it is the base for relations. The Chinese economy will become more independent over the next century, as all major industrial revolutions result with this. It is predicted within the next century/half century, but it could happen much sooner, link provided:

http://edition.cnn.com/2008/BUSINESS...lus/index.html

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"Gimme some truth, now whose side are we on? Whatever you say, turn on the boob tube I'm in the mood to obey" Jack Johnson

Stalin murdered not only Ukrainians. He was the enemy of his own peoples first of all. Let's remember the hictory of WWII when the Vlasov's army acted in Ukraina. They were supported by Hitler. Moreover let's remember Mahno, Petlura and Bandera. They were all bandits and scums. But the most part of Khokhols thinks they were heroes. And then you dare say that Russia likes genocide... It's hipocrisy.

I thought the insults on this this forum are forbidden. The insulting of other countries shows all your culture. Now I don't wonder that foreign policy on U.S. and its stooges is full of hiporisy, lie and arrogance.

I'm still a bit skeptical on the whole 'China Rising' issue....

The Chinese are rising yes, their surplus is huge yes, but when a child grows, it may grow 10% for a few years, but does it keep growing that way?

Also, you have to take into account the enormous technological advantage we have and how we can use this to overcome their mass, slave labour system. When we figure out energy self-suffiency and have robots building everything, how can the Chinese, neigh anyone compete?

If we use our superior monetary resources this could happen by the time I'm 30.

With this in mind, one can see how China and Russia would sink away......

__________________
I'll tell you this no eternal reward will forgive us now for wasting the dawn
Nothing to kill or die for and no religion too
You may bury my body, down by the highway side,
so my old evil spirit can get a Greyhound bus and ride.

Yes, it could be interpreted that way, after all, who's to say what will happen.

The economic factors are as such:

1) China is undergoing arguably the greatest industrial revolution in history second only to the US (particularly in number of factories, buildings, migration to urban areas, etc.) and will surpass the US's in a number of years.
http://economistsview.typepad.com/ec..._from_chi.html

2) The Chinese Supreme Court is budding, and trying earnestly to regulate all aspects of their newfound capitalism. It has actually been coined a new type of capitalism - politicized capitalism, in a socialist realm.
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/I...r(032906)1.pdf

3) Competitors are not few and far between, a healthy, breathing, expandable capitalist environment exists. A market is beginning to develop.
http://www.countercurrents.org/economy-chan050504.htm
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=030...3E2.0.CO%3B2-B

4) Large 'producers' eventually form large 'consumers' in capitalism.
http://books.google.com/books?id=6o6...yIKaeLA-qBcWJQ

The list of factors, in other realms also - military, political, environmental, social, etc. is nearly endless, and the large majority point to exponential progress within the next century. Basically, the greater number of people, the greater productivity of a nation when an independent, stable market is formed.

Honestly, I did not know this was a known theory, as I have said it before - the Chinese Gilded Age.
But here it is:
http://www.cbc.ca/money/moneytalks/2...ilded_age.html

But this is not a democracy, so government involvement will exist. Rockefeller and JP Morgan will seem like schoolboys compared to the Chinese government after their economy is developed. Government involvement will keep capitalism in check, it will not 'spread' as fast as the US capitalism did, but it should be more powerful/influential.

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"Gimme some truth, now whose side are we on? Whatever you say, turn on the boob tube I'm in the mood to obey" Jack Johnson

Basically, we have a socialist country undergoing a capitalist industrial revolution - which balances the most powerful production and consumer aspects of a nation. A democratic country undergoing capitalist industrial revolutions lean toward consumerism.

Once a viable market is formed, technologies will be cheaper to create in China.

Russia will be 'propped' by China. China should know they need Russia, and it has been theorized they will be involved in cooperation since at least a few years back.

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"Gimme some truth, now whose side are we on? Whatever you say, turn on the boob tube I'm in the mood to obey" Jack Johnson

IMHO - your typical mistake as newbie here : you're trying to explain to average American folks something. The only language they could understand is a language of force. Good guys VS Bad guys. Like in their primitive cowboy- related movies. For instance, you said something like "we, Russians, used to face Hitler". Hell, most of them never knew who was that Hitler. They played baseball during lessons of World History. Many of them still believe that America was fighting against Soviet-Japanese alliance and solely won World War II. They seriously insist that America should police the World(!!!). They seriously believe that they are elite and chosen. Hey, pay attention - they re-elected the World's Top Moron !!! And they still support him!!! Need I say something more???

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EU : Portable Stereo AM/FM Radio Cassette Recorder
CIS (Russia) : АМ/ЧМ Stereo Magnitola
US : Boombox (Ghettoblaster)

Commonsense, thank you for clarification, I agree. But, some folks who grew up on stupid propagandistic slogans will never understand the difference between AK and M-16. All they know is "US-made is a best for all times"!

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EU : Portable Stereo AM/FM Radio Cassette Recorder
CIS (Russia) : АМ/ЧМ Stereo Magnitola
US : Boombox (Ghettoblaster)